Editing World Health Organization (section)

== Policies and objectives ==

===Overall focus===
The WHO's Constitution states that its objective "is the attainment by all people of the highest possible level of health".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/entity/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf |publisher=World Health Organization |title=Constitution of the World Health Organization |access-date=11 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623084506/https://www.who.int/governance/eb/who_constitution_en.pdf |archive-date=23 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The WHO fulfils this objective through its functions as defined in its Constitution:

<ul style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">
  <li>To act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health work;</li>
  <li>To establish and maintain effective collaboration with the [[United Nations]], specialized agencies, governmental health administrations, professional groups and such other organizations as may be deemed appropriate;</li>
  <li>To assist Governments, upon request, in strengthening health services;</li>
<li>To furnish appropriate technical assistance and, in emergencies, necessary aid upon the request or acceptance of Governments;</li>
<li>To provide or assist in providing, upon the request of the United Nations, health services and facilities to special groups, such as the peoples of trust territories;</li>
<li>To establish and maintain such administrative and technical services as may be required, including epidemiological and statistical services;</li>
<li>To stimulate and advance work to eradicate epidemic, endemic and other diseases;</li>
<li>To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the prevention of accidental injuries;</li>
<li>To promote, in co-operation with other specialized agencies where necessary, the improvement of nutrition, housing, sanitation, recreation, economic or working conditions and other aspects of environmental hygiene;</li>
<li>To promote co-operation among scientific and professional groups which contribute to the advancement of health;</li>
<li>To propose conventions, agreements and regulations, and make recommendations with respect to international health matters and to perform (Article 2 of the Constitution).</li>
</ul>

{{As of|2012}}, the WHO has defined its role in [[public health]] as follows:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/about/role/en/index.html |title=The role of WHO in public health |publisher=WHO |access-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311015020/http://www.who.int/about/role/en/index.html |archive-date=11 March 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed;
* shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation, and dissemination of valuable knowledge;<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hoffman |first1=S. J. |last2=Røttingen |first2=J-A. |year=2012 |title=Assessing Implementation Mechanisms for an International Agreement on Research and Development for Health Products |journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |volume=90 |issue=12 |pages=854–863 |doi=10.2471/BLT.12.109827 |pmid=23226898 |pmc=3506410}}</ref>
* setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their implementation;
* articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options;
* providing technical support, catalysing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity; and
* monitoring the health situation and assessing health trends.
* CRVS ([[civil registration and vital statistics]]) to provide monitoring of vital events (birth, death, wedding, divorce).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/civil_registration/en/ |title=Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) |website=who.int |access-date=12 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504144326/https://www.who.int/healthinfo/civil_registration/en/ |archive-date=4 May 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Since the late 20th century, the rise of new actors engaged in global health—such as the [[World Bank]], the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief ([[President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief|PEPFAR]]) and dozens of public-private partnerships for global health—have weakened the WHO's role as a coordinator and policy leader in the field; subsequently, there are various proposals to reform or reorient the WHO's role and priorities in public health, ranging from narrowing its mandate to strengthening its independence and authority.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hanrieder |first=Tine |date=2020-11-23 |title=Priorities, Partners, Politics: The WHO's Mandate beyond the Crisis |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/gg/26/4/article-p534_2.xml |journal=Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations |volume=26 |issue=4 |pages=534–543 |doi=10.1163/19426720-02604008 |issn=1075-2846}}</ref>

In line with a growing global trend, as documented by the [[OECD]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/innovative-citizen-participation-and-new-democratic-institutions_339306da-en.html |title=Innovative Citizen Participation and New Democratic Institutions: Catching the Deliberative Wave |date=9 June 2020 |publisher=OECD, June 2020 |access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref> and established at the EU,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202302836#:~:text=Member%20States%20should%20introduce%20citizen,dialogue%20and%20co%2Dcreation%20formats. |title=COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION (EU) 2023/2836 of 12 December 2023 on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes |publisher=EU Commission, December 2023 |access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref> the WHO has embraced increased public participation in health policymaking.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/131952/9789289050661-eng.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y |title=Smart governance for health and well-being: the evidence |publisher=World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, 2014 |access-date=9 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240061521 |title=Implementing citizen engagement within evidence-informed policy-making: An overview of purpose and methods |publisher=WHO, November 2022 |access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240081413 |title=Citizen engagement in evidence-informed policy making: A guide to mini-publics |publisher=WHO, February 2024 |access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref> This is in alignment with the [[Sustainable Development Goals|UN Sustainable Development Goals]] (SDGs)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2022-09/Final%20Policy%20Brief%2016%207%202_0.pdf |title=Measuring Peace, Justice and Inclusion - SDG 16 Policy Brief - SDG 16.7.2: Ensuring Inclusive and Responsive Decision-Making for Sustainable Development |publisher=UNDP Oslo Governance Centre, September 2022 |access-date=17 December 2024}}</ref> and other intergovernmental agreements, and means "empowering people, communities and civil society through inclusive participation in decision-making processes that affect health across the policy cycle and at all levels of the system."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/news/item/29-05-2024-world-health-assembly-endorses-resolution-on-social-participation |title=World Health Assembly endorses resolution on social participation |publisher=WHO, May 2024 |access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref>

====Communicable diseases====
During the 1970s, WHO had dropped its commitment to a global malaria eradication campaign as too ambitious, it retained a strong commitment to malaria control. WHO's Global Malaria Programme works to keep track of [[malaria]] cases, and future problems in malaria control schemes. As of 2012, the WHO was to report as to whether [[RTS,S]]/AS01, were a viable [[malaria vaccine]]. For the time being, [[insecticide]]-treated [[mosquito net]]s and insecticide sprays are used to prevent the spread of malaria, as are [[antimalarial drugs]] – particularly to vulnerable people such as pregnant women and young children.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/index.html |title=Malaria Fact Sheet |website=WHO Media Centre |publisher=WHO |date=April 2012 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527220008/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/index.html |archive-date=27 May 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1988, WHO launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to eradicate [[polio]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr78/en/ |title=WHO |access-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050428052449/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr78/en/ |archive-date=28 April 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It has also been successful in helping to reduce cases by 99% since WHO partnered with [[Rotary International]], the [[US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC), the [[United Nations Children's Fund]] (UNICEF), and smaller organizations. {{As of| 2011}}, it has been working to immunize young children and prevent the re-emergence of cases in countries declared "polio-free".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114/en/ |title=Poliomyelitis Fact Sheet |website=WHO Media Centre |publisher=WHO |date=October 2011 |access-date=11 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418105535/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114/en/ |archive-date=18 April 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017, a study was conducted as to why Polio Vaccines may not be enough to eradicate the Virus & conduct new technology. Polio is now on the verge of extinction, thanks to a Global Vaccination Drive. The World Health Organization (WHO) stated the eradication programme has saved millions from deadly disease.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/health-topics/poliomyelitis#tab=tab_1 |title=Poliomyelitis (Polio) |access-date=26 January 2023 |archive-date=7 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007002521/https://www.who.int/health-topics/poliomyelitis#tab=tab_1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 1990 and 2010, WHO's help has contributed to a 40% decline in the number of deaths from tuberculosis, and since 2005, over 46&nbsp;million people have been treated and an estimated 7&nbsp;million lives saved through practices advocated by WHO. These include engaging national governments and their financing, early diagnosis, standardizing treatment, monitoring of the spread and effect of tuberculosis, and stabilizing the drug supply. It has also recognized the vulnerability of victims of HIV/AIDS to tuberculosis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/index.html |title=Tuberculosis Fact Sheet |website=WHO work mediacenter |publisher=WHO |date=April 2012 |access-date=24 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230232509/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/index.html |archive-date=30 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003, the WHO denounced the [[Roman Curia]]'s health department's opposition to the use of [[condom]]s, saying: "These incorrect statements about condoms and HIV are dangerous when we are facing a global pandemic which has already killed more than 20&nbsp;million people, and currently affects at least 42&nbsp;million."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/09/aids |title=Vatican: condoms don't stop Aids |work=The Guardian |date=9 October 2003 |access-date=18 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121222120/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/oct/09/aids |archive-date=21 November 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2009}}, the [[Roman Catholic Church and AIDS|Catholic Church remains opposed to increasing the use of contraception to combat HIV/AIDS]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/17/pope-africa-condoms-aids |title=Pope claims condoms could make African Aids crisis worse |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906074226/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/17/pope-africa-condoms-aids |archive-date=6 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, the World Health Assembly president, [[Guyana]]'s Health Minister [[Leslie Ramsammy]], condemned [[Pope Benedict XVI|Pope Benedict's]] opposition to contraception, saying he was trying to "create confusion" and "impede" proven strategies in the battle against the disease.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsk4RI5cPLSsvXTY9ZEyWSMrVElg |title=World Health Assembly: Pope Benedict "wrong" |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=21 March 2009 |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524053152/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsk4RI5cPLSsvXTY9ZEyWSMrVElg |archive-date=24 May 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2007, the WHO organized work on pandemic [[influenza vaccine]] development through [[clinical trial]]s in collaboration with many experts and health officials.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/influenza/clinical_evaluation_tables/en/|title=Tables on clinical evaluation of influenza vaccines |website=World Health Organization |access-date=13 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125083429/http://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/influenza/clinical_evaluation_tables/en/ |archive-date=25 November 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[2009 swine flu pandemic|A pandemic]] involving the [[Pandemic H1N1/09 virus|H1N1 influenza virus]] was declared by the then director-general [[Margaret Chan]] in April 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2009/06/who-declares-pandemic-novel-h1n1-virus|title=WHO declares pandemic of novel H1N1 virus |work=CIDRAP |access-date=13 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201093300/http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2009/06/who-declares-pandemic-novel-h1n1-virus |archive-date=1 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Margret Chan declared in 2010 that the H1N1 has moved into the post-pandemic period.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/ |title=Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 |website=World Health Organization |access-date=13 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207110028/http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/ |archive-date=7 December 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By the post-pandemic period, critics claimed the WHO had exaggerated the danger, spreading "fear and confusion" rather than "immediate information".<ref>{{cite news |date=12 April 2010 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36421914 |title=WHO admits errors in handling flu pandemic: Agency accused of overplaying danger of the virus as it swept the globe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525025823/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna36421914 |archive-date=25 May 2024 |work=[[NBC News]]}}</ref> Industry experts countered that the 2009 pandemic had led to "unprecedented collaboration between global health authorities, scientists and manufacturers, resulting in the most comprehensive pandemic response ever undertaken, with a number of vaccines approved for use three months after the pandemic declaration. This response was only possible because of the extensive preparations undertaken during the last decade".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Abelina |first=A. |year=2011 |title=Lessons from pandemic influenza A(H1N1) The research-based vaccine industry's perspective |journal=Vaccine |volume=29 |issue=6 |pages=1135–1138 |doi=10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.11.042 |display-authors=etal |pmid=21115061 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

The 2012–2013 WHO budget identified five areas among which funding was distributed.<ref name="WHO">{{cite web |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pb/2012-2013/PB_2012%E2%80%932013_eng.pdf |title=Programme Budget, 2012–2013 |publisher=WHO |access-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617074331/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/pb/2012-2013/PB_2012%E2%80%932013_eng.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|5, 20}} Two of those five areas related to [[communicable diseases]]: the first, to reduce the "health, social and economic burden" of communicable diseases in general; the second to combat [[HIV/AIDS]], [[malaria]] and [[tuberculosis]] in particular.<ref name="WHO"/>{{rp|5, 26}}

{{As of|2015}}, the World Health Organization has worked within the [[UNAIDS]] network and strives to involve sections of society other than health to help deal with the economic and social effects of [[HIV/AIDS]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS 2011–2015 |publisher=WHO |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf |year=2011 |page=5 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513171221/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In line with UNAIDS, WHO has set itself the interim task between 2009 and 2015 of reducing the number of those aged 15–24 years who are infected by 50%; reducing new HIV infections in children by 90%; and reducing HIV-related deaths by 25%.<ref>{{cite web |title=Global health sector strategy on HIV/AIDS 2011–2015 |url=http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf |publisher=WHO |year=2011 |page=7 |access-date=23 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513171221/http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789241501651_eng.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The World Health Organization's definition of neglected tropical disease has been criticized to be restrictive (focusing only on communicable diseases) and described as a form of epistemic injustice, where conditions like snakebite are forced to be framed as a medical problem.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Bhaumik |first1=Soumyadeep |last2=Zwi |first2=Anthony B. |last3=Norton |first3=Robyn |last4=Jagnoor |first4=Jagnoor |date=1 August 2023 |title=How and why snakebite became a global health priority: a policy analysis |url=https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/8/e011923 |journal=[[BMJ Global Health]] |language=en |volume=8 |issue=8 |pages=e011923 |doi=10.1136/bmjgh-2023-011923 |issn=2059-7908 |pmid=37604596 |pmc=10445399 |access-date=25 August 2023 |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824061447/https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/8/e011923 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Non-communicable diseases====
One of the thirteen WHO priority areas is aimed at the prevention and reduction of "disease, disability and premature deaths from chronic [[noncommunicable disease]]s, [[mental disorder]]s, violence and [[injury prevention|injuries]], and [[visual impairment]] which are collectively responsible for almost 71% of all deaths worldwide".<ref name="WHO"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/en/ |title=WHO Violence and Injury Prevention |publisher=Who.int |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221105509/http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/en/ |archive-date=21 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Noncommunicable diseases |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases |access-date=8 March 2021 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017233123/https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases |url-status=live}}</ref> The Division of Noncommunicable Diseases for Promoting Health through the Reproductive Health has published the magazine, ''Entre Nous'', across Europe since 1983.<ref>{{cite web |title=Entre Nous |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715203751/http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/publications/entre-nous/entre-nous |archive-date=15 July 2017 |url=http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/Life-stages/sexual-and-reproductive-health/publications/entre-nous/entre-nous |website=euro.who.int |publisher=WHO/Europe |oclc=782375711}}</ref>

WHO is mandated under two of the [[United Nations drug control conventions|international drug control conventions]] ([[Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs|Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961]] and [[Convention on Psychotropic Substances]], 1971) to carry out scientific assessments of substances for international [[Drug policy|drug control]]. Through the [[WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD)]], it can recommend changes to scheduling of substances to the [[United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Expert Committee on Drug Dependence |title=[Flyer] WHO's role under the international drug control conventions |url=https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whos-role-in-intl-drug-system-flyer.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522210526/https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/controlled-substances/whos-role-in-intl-drug-system-flyer.pdf |archive-date=22 May 2021 |publisher=World Health Organization |publication-place=Geneva |access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref> The ECDD is in charge of evaluating "the impact of psychoactive substances on public health" and "their dependence producing properties and potential harm to health, as well as considering their potential medical benefits and therapeutic applications."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Role of the WHO under International Drug Control Conventions |url=https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/role-of-the-WHO-under-international-drug-control-conventions |access-date=22 May 2021 |website=World Health Organization |language=en}}</ref>

====Environmental health====
The WHO estimates that 12.6&nbsp;million people died as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment in 2012 – this accounts for nearly 1 in 4 of total global deaths. Environmental risk factors, such as air, water, and [[soil pollution]], chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation, contribute to more than 100 diseases and injuries. This can result in a number of [[List of pollution-related diseases|pollution-related diseases]].
* 2018 (30 October – 1 November): 1 WHO's first global conference on air pollution and health (''Improving air quality, combatting climate change – saving lives''); organized in collaboration with UN Environment, [[World Meteorological Organization]] (WMO), and the secretariat of the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change|UN Framework Convention on Climate Change]] (UNFCCC)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/airpollution/events/conference/WHO_Conference_on_Air_Pollution_and_Health-Concept_Note-final.pdf |title=1 WHO's First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health Improving air quality, combatting climate change – saving lives |access-date=21 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412084919/https://www.who.int/airpollution/events/conference/WHO_Conference_on_Air_Pollution_and_Health-Concept_Note-final.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Life course and lifestyle====
WHO works to "reduce [[morbidity]] and [[Death|mortality]] and improve health during key stages of life, including pregnancy, childbirth, the [[Infant|neonatal period]], [[childhood]] and adolescence, and improve [[Sexual health|sexual]] and [[reproductive health]] and promote active and healthy aging for all individuals", for instance with the [[Special Programme on Human Reproduction]].<ref name="WHO"/>{{rp|39–45}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/hrp/en/index.html |title=Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction |publisher=WHO |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218011849/http://www.who.int/hrp/en/index.html |archive-date=18 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

It also tries to prevent or reduce risk factors for "health conditions associated with use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and other psychoactive substances, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity and [[unsafe sex]]".<ref name="WHO"/>{{rp|50–55}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/topics/tobacco/en/ |title=Tobacco |publisher=WHO |access-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415033541/http://www.who.int/topics/tobacco/en/ |archive-date=15 April 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/ |title=Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health |publisher=WHO |access-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621140037/http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/en/ |archive-date=21 June 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The WHO works to improve nutrition, [[food safety]] and [[food security]] and to ensure this has a positive effect on [[public health]] and [[sustainable development]].<ref name="WHO"/>{{rp|66–71}}

In April 2019, the WHO released new recommendations stating that children between the ages of two and five should spend no more than one hour per day engaging in sedentary behaviour in front of a screen and that children under two should not be permitted any sedentary screen time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/25/18516669/screen-time-limits-who-children-health-physical-activity-sleep-tv-phones |title=The WHO's new screen time limits aren't really about screens |last=Becker |first=Rachel |date=25 April 2019 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=15 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610222207/https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/25/18516669/screen-time-limits-who-children-health-physical-activity-sleep-tv-phones |archive-date=10 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2025, the WHO released a new guideline ''Use of lower-sodium salt substitutes'' which strongly recommends reducing sodium intake to less than 2 g/day and conditionally recommends replacing regular table salt with lower-sodium salt substitutes that contain potassium.  This recommendation is intended for adults (not pregnant women or children) in general populations, excluding individuals with kidney impairments or with other circumstances or conditions that might compromise potassium excretion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview of the WHO guideline on lower-sodium salt substitutes |url=https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/nutrition-and-food-safety/events/2025/launch-of-lsss-guideline-presentation-1-overview.pdf |first=Rain |last=Yamamoto |date=27 January 2025 |access-date=31 January 2025 |publisher=World Health Organization }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Use of lower-sodium salt substitutes: WHO guideline |url=https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240105591 |date=27 January 2025 |access-date=31 January 2025 |publisher=World Health Organization }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Use of lower-sodium salt substitutes: WHO guideline |url=https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/380227/9789240105591-eng.pdf?sequence=1 |date=27 January 2025 |access-date=31 January 2025 |publisher=World Health Organization }}</ref>

====Surgery and trauma care====
The World Health Organization promotes road safety as a means to reduce traffic-related injuries.<ref>WHO. [https://www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/ Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011–2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200410142328/https://www.who.int/roadsafety/decade_of_action/en/ |date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> It has also worked on global initiatives in surgery, including emergency and essential surgical care,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/surgery/globalinitiative/en/ |title=Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care |publisher=WHO |date=11 August 2011 |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727133635/http://www.who.int/surgery/globalinitiative/en/ |archive-date=27 July 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> trauma care,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/emergencycare/trauma/essential-care/en/ |title=Essential trauma care project |publisher=WHO |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510164151/http://www.who.int/emergencycare/trauma/essential-care/en/ |archive-date=10 May 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and safe surgery.<ref name="safesurgery">{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/en/ |title=Safe Surgery Saves Lives |publisher=WHO |date=17 June 2011 |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215223614/http://www.who.int/patientsafety/safesurgery/en/ |archive-date=15 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[WHO Surgical Safety Checklist]] is in current use worldwide in the effort to improve patient safety.<ref name="safesurgery"/>

====Emergency work====
The World Health Organization's primary objective in natural and man-made emergencies is to coordinate with member states and other stakeholders to "reduce avoidable loss of life and the burden of disease and disability."<ref name="WHO"/>{{rp|46–49}}

On 5 May 2014, WHO announced that the spread of [[Poliomyelitis|polio]] was a world health emergency – outbreaks of the disease in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East were considered "extraordinary".<ref>{{cite press release |author=<!--Staff Writer--> |title=UN: Spread of polio now an world health emergency |url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140505/eu-med-polio-emergency-6e6900dc37.html |date=5 May 2014 |location=London |agency=[[AP News]] |publisher=Mindspark Interactkookve Network, Inc. |access-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505170700/http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140505/eu-med-polio-emergency-6e6900dc37.html |archive-date=5 May 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gladstone |first=Rick |title=Polio Spreading at Alarming Rates, World Health Organization Declares |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/health/world-health-organization-polio-health-emergency.html |date=5 May 2014 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416184843/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/health/world-health-organization-polio-health-emergency.html |archive-date=16 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 8 August 2014, WHO declared that the spread of [[Ebola]] was a public health emergency; an outbreak which was believed to have started in Guinea had spread to other nearby countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone. The situation in West Africa was considered very serious.<ref>{{cite press release |first1=Kate |last1=Kelland |first2=Felix |last2=Onuah |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-ebola-africa-idUSKBN0G81Q820140808 |title=WHO declares Ebola an international health emergency |location=London/Lagos |work=[[Reuters]] |date=8 August 2014 |access-date=3 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924203334/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/08/us-health-ebola-africa-idUSKBN0G81Q820140808 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=====Reform efforts following the Ebola outbreak=====
Following the [[2014 Ebola outbreak]] in West Africa, the organization was heavily criticized for its bureaucracy, insufficient financing, regional structure, and staffing profile.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hoffman|first1=SJ|last2=Røttingen|first2=JA|title=Split WHO in two: strengthening political decision-making and securing independent scientific advice|journal=Public Health Journal|date=February 2014|volume=128|issue=2|pages=188–194|doi=10.1016/j.puhe.2013.08.021|pmid=24434035|s2cid=43679089}}</ref>

An internal WHO report on the Ebola response pointed to underfunding and the lack of "core capacity" in health systems in developing countries as the primary weaknesses of the existing system. At the annual World Health Assembly in 2015, Director-General Margaret Chan announced a $100&nbsp;million Contingency Fund for rapid response to future emergencies,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_21-en.pdf|title=Report of the Review Committee on the Role of the International Health Regulations (2005) in the Ebola Outbreak and Response|date=13 May 2016|access-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519012647/http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_21-en.pdf|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/05/21/408289115/who-calls-for-100-million-emergency-fund-doctor-swat-team|title=WHO Calls For $100 Million Emergency Fund, Doctor 'SWAT Team'|first1=Lawrence|last1=Gostin|newspaper=NPR|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221100655/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/05/21/408289115/who-calls-for-100-million-emergency-fund-doctor-swat-team|archive-date=21 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> of which it had received $26.9&nbsp;million by April 2016 (for 2017 disbursement). WHO has budgeted an additional $494&nbsp;million for its [[Health Emergencies Programme (WHO)|Health Emergencies Programme]] in 2016–17, for which it had received $140&nbsp;million by April 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_30-en.pdf|title=Reform of WHO's work in health emergency management / WHO Health Emergencies Programme|date=5 May 2016|access-date=27 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519011901/http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA69/A69_30-en.pdf|archive-date=19 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The program was aimed at rebuilding WHO capacity for direct action, which critics said had been lost due to budget cuts in the previous decade that had left the organization in an advisory role dependent on member states for on-the-ground activities. In comparison, billions of dollars have been spent by developed countries on the 2013–2016 Ebola epidemic and 2015–16 Zika epidemic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/05/25/479228380/who-aims-to-reform-itself-but-health-experts-arent-yet-impressed|title=WHO Aims To Reform Itself But Health Experts Aren't Yet Impressed|newspaper=NPR|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131951/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/05/25/479228380/who-aims-to-reform-itself-but-health-experts-arent-yet-impressed|archive-date=1 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=====Response to the COVID-19 pandemic=====
{{main|World Health Organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic}}[[File:World Health Organization Bangladesh.jpg|thumb|Staffs of World Health Organization Bangladesh are in COVID vaccine program in Dhaka.]]

The WHO created an Incident Management Support Team on 1 January 2020, one day after Chinese health authorities notified the organization of a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown aetiology.<ref name="Withholding-funding-from-the-World-Health-Organization-is-wrong-and-dangerous-2020">{{cite news |title=Withholding funding from the World Health Organization is wrong and dangerous, and must be reversed |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01121-1 |access-date=3 June 2020 |publisher=Nature |date=17 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607033413/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01121-1 |archive-date=7 June 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="whopneumonia">{{cite web |title=WHO: Pneumonia of unknown cause – China |url=https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/ |website=WHO |access-date=9 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107032945/https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-january-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/ |archive-date=7 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Guardian-superpower-struggle">{{cite web | first=Julian | last=Borger | work=[[The Guardian]] | title=Caught in a superpower struggle: the inside story of the WHO's response to coronavirus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/18/caught-in-a-superpower-struggle-the-inside-story-of-the-whos-response-to-coronavirus | date=18 April 2020 | access-date=19 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423044038/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/18/caught-in-a-superpower-struggle-the-inside-story-of-the-whos-response-to-coronavirus | archive-date=23 April 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 January the WHO notified all member states of the outbreak,<ref name="Amanda-Watts-and-Veronica-Stracqualursi">{{cite news |author=Amanda Watts and Veronica Stracqualursi |title=WHO defends coronavirus response after Trump criticism |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/who-responds-trump-claims-coronavirus/index.html |access-date=9 April 2020 |work=CNN |agency=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408192136/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/08/politics/who-responds-trump-claims-coronavirus/index.html |archive-date=8 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> and in subsequent days provided guidance to all countries on how to respond,<ref name="Amanda-Watts-and-Veronica-Stracqualursi" /> and confirmed the first infection outside China.<ref name="SCMP-WHO">{{cite news |title=Thailand confirms first case of Wuhan virus outside China |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3045902/wuhan-pneumonia-thailand-confirms-first-case |access-date=9 April 2020 |work=South China Morning Post |date=13 January 2020 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113130102/https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3045902/wuhan-pneumonia-thailand-confirms-first-case |archive-date=13 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 14 January 2020, the WHO announced that preliminary investigations conducted by Chinese authorities had found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) identified in Wuhan.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1217043229427761152 |title=Preliminary investigations conducted by the Chinese authorities have found no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of the novel #coronavirus |user=WHO |date=14 January 2020}}</ref> The same day, the organization warned of limited human-to-human transmission, and confirmed human-to-human transmission one week later.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/wuhan-virus-has-limited-human-to-human-transmission-but-could-spread-wider-who |access-date=14 April 2020 |work=The Straits Times |title=Wuhan virus has limited human-to-human transmission but could spread wider: WHO |date=14 January 2020 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114144609/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/wuhan-virus-has-limited-human-to-human-transmission-but-could-spread-wider-who |archive-date=14 January 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="reuterswarns">{{Cite news|date=14 January 2020|title=WHO says new China coronavirus could spread, warns hospitals worldwide|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-pneumonia-who-idUSKBN1ZD16J|access-date=20 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200120175511/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-pneumonia-who-idUSKBN1ZD16J|archive-date=20 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="KesslerApr17">{{cite news |last1=Kessler |first1=Glenn |title=Trump's false claim that the WHO said the coronavirus was 'not communicable' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/17/trumps-false-claim-that-who-said-coronavirus-was-not-communicable/ |access-date=17 April 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=17 April 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200417193804/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/04/17/trumps-false-claim-that-who-said-coronavirus-was-not-communicable/ |archive-date=17 April 2020}}</ref> On 30 January the WHO declared a [[Public Health Emergency of International Concern]] (PHEIC),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)|title=Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)|website=World Health Organization|language=en|access-date=27 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131005904/https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)|archive-date=31 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Merrit |title=WHO Declares Coronavirus Outbreak A Global Health Emergency |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/798894428/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency |access-date=19 April 2020 |work=[[NPR]] |date=30 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326170153/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/30/798894428/who-declares-coronavirus-outbreak-a-global-health-emergency |archive-date=26 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Coronavirus: the first three months as it happened |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00154-w |access-date=3 June 2020 |publisher=Nature |date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222101840/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00154-w |archive-date=22 February 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> considered a "call to action" and "last resort" measure for the international community and a [[pandemic]] on 11 March.<ref name="Rull2015">{{Cite journal|last1=Rull|first1=Monica|last2=Kickbusch|first2=Ilona|last3=Lauer|first3=Helen|date=8 December 2015|title=Policy Debate {{!}} International Responses to Global Epidemics: Ebola and Beyond|journal=International Development Policy|language=en|volume=6|issue=2|doi=10.4000/poldev.2178|issn=1663-9375|doi-access=free}}</ref>

While organizing the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic and overseeing "more than 35 emergency operations" for cholera, measles and other epidemics internationally,<ref name="Withholding-funding-from-the-World-Health-Organization-is-wrong-and-dangerous-2020" /> the WHO has been criticized for praising China's public health response to the crisis while seeking to maintain a "diplomatic balancing act" between the United States and China.<ref name="Guardian-superpower-struggle" /><ref>{{Cite news|first=Sarah|last=Boseley|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/18/china-coronavirus-who-diplomatic-challenge|title=China's handling of coronavirus is a diplomatic challenge for WHO|date=18 February 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=28 February 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228061528/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/18/china-coronavirus-who-diplomatic-challenge|archive-date=28 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/14/asia/coronavirus-who-china-intl-hnk/index.html|title=WHO's relationship with China under scrutiny due to coronavirus crisis|first=James|last=Griffiths|work=CNN|date=16 February 2020|access-date=19 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228223255/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/14/asia/coronavirus-who-china-intl-hnk/index.html|archive-date=28 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who-idUSKBN1ZM1G9|title=Wuhan lockdown 'unprecedented', shows commitment to contain virus: WHO representative in China|date=23 January 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=28 February 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124203401/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-health-who-idUSKBN1ZM1G9|archive-date=24 January 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> [[David L. Heymann]], professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the [[London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine]], said that "China has been very transparent and open in sharing its data... and they opened up all of their files with the WHO present."<ref>{{Cite news |title=WHO coronavirus team in Wuhan to work out next containment step |last1=Jaipragas |first1=Bhavan |last2=Zheng |first2=Sarah |newspaper=South China Morning Post |date=22 February 2020 |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3051917/who-coronavirus-team-ground-zero-wuhan-work-out-next-containment|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415014430/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-team-ground-zero-wuhan-105556254.html |archive-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>

The WHO faced criticism from the United States' [[First presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]] while "guid[ing] the world in how to tackle the deadly" [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="Withholding-funding-from-the-World-Health-Organization-is-wrong-and-dangerous-2020" /> On 14 April 2020, United States president [[Donald Trump]] said that he would halt United States funding to the WHO while reviewing its role in "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/coronavirus-updates.html|title=Coronavirus Updates: Trump Halts U.S. Funding of World Health Organization|newspaper=The New York Times|date=14 April 2020|access-date=14 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414224652/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/us/coronavirus-updates.html|archive-date=14 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> World leaders and health experts largely condemned President Trump's announcement, which came amid criticism of his response to the outbreak in the United States.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web | title= WHO regrets Trump funding halt as global coronavirus cases top 2 million | first1= Stephanie | last1= Nebehay | first2= Jeff | last2= Mason | work= [[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus/who-regrets-trump-funding-halt-as-global-coronavirus-cases-top-2-million-idUSKCN21X0AL | date= 15 April 2020 | access-date= 16 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415232139/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus/who-regrets-trump-funding-halt-as-global-coronavirus-cases-top-2-million-idUSKCN21X0AL | archive-date= 15 April 2020 | url-status= live }}</ref> WHO called the announcement "regrettable" and defended its actions in alerting the world to the emergence of COVID-19.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web | title='We Alerted The World' To Coronavirus On Jan. 5, WHO Says In Response To U.S | first=Bill | last=Chappell | work=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/15/835179442/we-alerted-the-world-to-coronavirus-on-jan-5-who-says-in-response-to-u-s | date=15 April 2020 | access-date=16 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415230012/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/15/835179442/we-alerted-the-world-to-coronavirus-on-jan-5-who-says-in-response-to-u-s | archive-date=15 April 2020 | url-status=live }}</ref> On 8 May 2020, the United States blocked a vote on a U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at promoting nonviolent international cooperation during the pandemic, and mentioning the WHO.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Allies despair as Trump abandons America's leadership role at a time of global crisis|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/09/politics/us-leadership-coronavirus-intl/index.html|last1=Gaouette|first1=Nicole|last2=Hansler|first2=Jennifer|date=9 May 2020|website=CNN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200509094116/https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/09/politics/us-leadership-coronavirus-intl/index.html|archive-date=9 May 2020|access-date=9 May 2020|last3=Atwood|first3=Kylie|last4=Dewan|first4=Angela}}</ref> On 7 July 2020, President Trump formally notified the UN of his intent to withdraw the United States from the WHO.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last1=Knutson |first1=Jacob |title=Trump administration notifies UN of intent to withdraw from WHO |url=https://www.axios.com/trump-withdraw-world-health-organization-757cd93d-d085-4cdf-acdd-6194f0f0789b.html |website=Axios |publisher=Axios Media |date=7 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707204220/https://www.axios.com/trump-withdraw-world-health-organization-757cd93d-d085-4cdf-acdd-6194f0f0789b.html |archive-date=7 July 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Trump's successor, President [[Joe Biden]], cancelled the planned withdrawal and announced in January 2021 that the U.S. would resume funding the organization.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|first1=Noah|last1=Higgins-Dunn|access-date=20 January 2021|title=Dr. Fauci to lead U.S. delegation at WHO meetings as Biden plans to reverse Trump withdrawal|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/01/20/dr-fauci-to-lead-us-delegation-at-who-meetings-as-biden-plans-to-reverse-trump-withdrawal-.html|date=20 January 2021|website=CNBC}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite web|access-date=20 January 2021|title=Biden signs executive actions on COVID, climate change, immigration and more|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-executive-orders-watch-live-stream-today-2021-01-20/|work=CBS News|first=Bo|last=Erickson|date=20 January 2021|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120233631/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-executive-orders-watch-live-stream-today-2021-01-20/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite news |title=Biden's US revives support for WHO, reversing Trump retreat |url=https://apnews.com/article/us-who-support-006ed181e016afa55d4cea30af236227 |access-date=20 March 2021 |work=AP NEWS |date=21 January 2021 |archive-date=28 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128000932/https://apnews.com/article/us-who-support-006ed181e016afa55d4cea30af236227 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2025, during his second term, President Trump issued an executive order to withdraw the United States from the WHO, citing their alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic originating in Wuhan, among other reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuevas |first=Eduardo |title=Trump orders United States to exit WHO again. Health experts warn of danger. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/01/20/trump-orders-us-exit-world-health-organization/77772989007/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-21 |title=Withdrawing The United States From The World Health Organization |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-the-worldhealth-organization/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=The White House |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2023, the WHO announced that COVID-19 was no longer a world-wide health emergency.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=McPhillips |first1=Jamie Gumbrecht |last2=Jacqueline |first2=Howard Deidre |date=5 May 2023 |title=WHO says Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/health/who-ends-covid-health-emergency/index.html |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230505143319/https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/05/health/who-ends-covid-health-emergency/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Health policy====
WHO addresses government [[health policy]] with two aims: firstly, "to address the underlying social and economic determinants of health through policies and programmes that enhance health equity and integrate pro-poor, gender-responsive, and human rights-based approaches" and secondly "to promote a healthier environment, intensify primary prevention and influence public policies in all sectors so as to address the root causes of environmental threats to health".<ref name="WHO" />{{rp|61–65}}

The organization develops and promotes the use of evidence-based tools, norms and standards to support member states to inform [[health policy]] options. It oversees the implementation of the [[International Health Regulations]], and publishes a series of [[medical classification]]s; of these, three are over-reaching "reference classifications": the [[International Statistical Classification of Diseases]] (ICD), the [[International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health]] (ICF) and the [[International Classification of Health Interventions]] (ICHI).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/classifications/en/FamilyDocument2007.pdf |title=Family of International Classifications: definition, scope and purpose |publisher=WHO |year=2007 |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318230124/http://www.who.int/classifications/en/FamilyDocument2007.pdf |archive-date=18 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other international policy frameworks produced by WHO include the [[International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes]] (adopted in 1981),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/9241541601/en/ |title=International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302093154/http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/infantfeeding/9241541601/en/ |archive-date=2 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Framework Convention on Tobacco Control]] (adopted in 2003)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/fctc/about/en/index.html |title=About the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219111054/http://www.who.int/fctc/about/en/index.html |archive-date=19 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Health Human Resources#Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel|Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel]] (adopted in 2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/hrh/migration/code/WHO_global_code_of_practice_EN.pdf |title=WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel |publisher=WHO |year=2010 |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617072645/http://www.who.int/hrh/migration/code/WHO_global_code_of_practice_EN.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as the [[WHO Model List of Essential Medicines]] and its [[WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children|pediatric counterpart]]. An international convention on pandemic prevention and preparedness is being actively considered.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Gostin|first1=Lawrence O.|last2=Halabi|first2=Sam F.|last3=Klock|first3=Kevin A.|date=15 September 2021|title=An International Agreement on Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness|journal=JAMA|volume=326|issue=13|pages=1257–1258|language=en|doi=10.1001/jama.2021.16104|pmid=34524388|issn=0098-7484|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In terms of health services, WHO looks to improve "governance, financing, staffing and management" and the availability and quality of evidence and research to guide policy. It also strives to "ensure improved access, quality and use of medical products and technologies".<ref name="WHO" />{{rp|72–83}} WHO – working with donor agencies and national governments – can improve their reporting about use of research evidence.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hoffman SJ, Lavis JN, Bennett S | year = 2009 | title = The Use of Research Evidence in Two International Organizations' Recommendations about Health Systems | journal = Healthcare Policy | volume = 5 | issue = 1| pages = 66–86 | doi = 10.12927/hcpol.2009.21005 | pmid = 20676252 | pmc = 2732656 | doi-access = free }}</ref>

====Digital Health====
On Digital Health topics, WHO has existing Inter-Agency collaboration with the [[International Telecommunication Union]] (the UN Specialized Agency for [[Information and communications technology|ICT]]), including the Be Health, Be Mobile initiate and the ITU-WHO Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health.

[[File:World Health Organization, Bangladesh.jpg|thumb|World Health Organization, Bangladesh]]

=== Policy packages ===

The WHO has developed several technical policy packages to support countries to improve health:<ref>{{Cite book |editor-last1=Banatvala |editor-first1=Nick |editor-last2=Bovet |editor-first2=Pascal |date=2023 |title=Noncommunicable Diseases: A Compendium |url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003306689/noncommunicable-diseases-nick-banatvala-pascal-bovet |location=London |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=9781032307923 |doi=10.4324/9781003306689 |s2cid=256130400 |access-date=7 August 2023 |archive-date=19 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119185416/https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003306689/noncommunicable-diseases-nick-banatvala-pascal-bovet |url-status=live |last1=Banatvala |first1=Nick |last2=Bovet |first2=Pascal }} Open access. See pages 56 (general, including ACTIVE), 63 (HEARTS), 135 (MPOWER), 153 (REPLACE), 161-162 (SHAKE) and 198 (SAFER).</ref>
* ACTIVE (physical activity)
* HEARTS (cardiovascular diseases)
* [[MPOWER tobacco control|MPOWER]] (tobacco control)
* REPLACE (trans fat)
* SAFER (alcohol)
* SHAKE (salt reduction)

===Governance and support===
The remaining two of WHO's thirteen identified policy areas relate to the role of WHO itself:<ref name="WHO" />{{rp|84–91}}
* "to provide leadership, strengthen governance and foster partnership and collaboration with countries, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders in order to fulfil the mandate of WHO in advancing the global health agenda"; and
* "to develop and sustain WHO as a flexible, learning organization, enabling it to carry out its mandate more efficiently and effectively".

====Partnerships====
The WHO along with the [[World Bank]] constitute the core team responsible for administering the [[International Health Partnership]] (IHP+). The IHP+ is a group of partner governments, development agencies, civil society, and others committed to improving the health of citizens in [[developing country|developing countries]]. Partners work together to put international principles for [[aid effectiveness]] and development co-operation into practice in the health sector.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalhealthpartnership.net/en/ |title=International Health Partnership |publisher=IHP+ |access-date=19 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911200649/http://www.internationalhealthpartnership.net/en/ |archive-date=11 September 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The organization relies on contributions from renowned scientists and professionals to inform its work, such as the [[WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/biologicals/expert_committee/en/ |title=WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127182909/http://www.who.int/biologicals/expert_committee/en/ |archive-date=27 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the [[WHO Expert Committee on Leprosy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?codlan=1&codcol=10&codcch=874 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161231145418/http://apps.who.int/bookorders/anglais/detart1.jsp?codlan=1&codcol=10&codcch=874|archive-date=31 December 2016|title=WHO Expert Committee on Leprosy: Seventh Report |website=WHO Press Office |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012}}</ref> and the [[Interprofessional education#WHO Study Group on Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice|WHO Study Group on Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/hrh/professionals/coordination/en/index.html |title=WHO Study Group on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice |publisher=27 March 2012 |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825212452/http://www.who.int/hrh/professionals/coordination/en/index.html |archive-date=25 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

WHO runs the [[Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research]], targeted at improving [[health policy]] and [[health system|systems]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/en/index.html |title=Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research |publisher=WHO |access-date=26 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617071607/http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/en/index.html |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

WHO also aims to improve access to health research and literature in developing countries such as through the [[HINARI]] network.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/hinari/en/ |title=HINARI Access to Research in Health Programme |publisher=Who.int |date=13 October 2011 |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127162901/http://www.who.int/hinari/en/ |archive-date=27 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

WHO collaborates with [[The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria]], UNITAID, and the [[United States]] President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief<ref name="appswhoint">{{cite web |title=Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV 2016–2021 |url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246178/WHO-HIV-2016.05-eng.pdf?sequence=1 |website=apps.who.int |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=13 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230045221/https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246178/WHO-HIV-2016.05-eng.pdf?sequence=1 |archive-date=30 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> to spearhead and fund the development of HIV programs.

WHO created the Civil Society Reference Group on HIV,<ref name="appswhoint" /> which brings together other networks that are involved in policymaking and the dissemination of guidelines.

WHO, a sector of the United Nations, partners with UNAIDS<ref name="appswhoint" /> to contribute to the development of HIV responses in different areas of the world.

WHO facilitates technical partnerships through the Technical Advisory Committee on HIV,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Strategic and Technical Advisory Committee meets on HIV priorities|url=https://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news/stac-hiv/en/|access-date=25 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180912031826/http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news/stac-hiv/en/|archive-date=12 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> which they created to develop WHO guidelines and policies.

In 2014, WHO released the ''Global Atlas of Palliative Care at the End of Life'' in a joint publication with the [[Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance]], an affiliated NGO working collaboratively with the WHO to promote [[palliative care]] in national and international [[health policy]].<ref>Chestnov, Oleg (January 2014). [https://www.who.int/nmh/Global_Atlas_of_Palliative_Care.pdf "Forward"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712195928/http://www.who.int/nmh/Global_Atlas_of_Palliative_Care.pdf |date=12 July 2018 }}, in Connor, Stephen and Sepulveda Bermedo, Maria Cecilia (editors), ''Global Atlas of Palliative Care at the End of Life'', [[Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance]] and World Health Organization, p. 3. Retrieved 21 September 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite journal | pmid = 28797861 | doi=10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.03.020 | volume=55 | title=The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance | year=2018 | author=Connor SR, Gwyther E | journal=J Pain Symptom Manage | issue=2 | pages=S112–S116| doi-access=free }}</ref>

====Public health education and action====
The practice of empowering individuals to exert more control over and make improvements to their health is known as health education, as described by the WHO. It shifts away from an emphasis on personal behaviour and toward a variety of societal and environmental solutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Health Organization (WHO) |url=https://www.who.int/ |access-date=30 March 2023 |website=World Health Organization |language=en |archive-date=5 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705141348/http://www.who.int/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Each year, the organization marks [[World Health Day]] and other observances focusing on a specific [[health promotion]] topic. World Health Day falls on 7 April each year, timed to match the anniversary of WHO's founding. Recent themes have been [[Vector (epidemiology)|vector-borne diseases]] (2014), healthy ageing (2012) and [[drug resistance]] (2011).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/ |title=World Health Day – 7 April |publisher=WHO |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330004839/http://www.who.int/world-health-day/en/ |archive-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The other official global public health campaigns marked by WHO are [[World Tuberculosis Day]], [[World Immunization Week]], [[World Malaria Day]], [[World No Tobacco Day]], [[World Blood Donor Day]], [[World Hepatitis Day]], and [[World AIDS Day]].

As part of the United Nations, the World Health Organization supports work towards the [[Millennium Development Goals]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/about/en/index.html |title=Millennium Development Goals |publisher=WHO |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321122705/http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/about/en/index.html |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Of the eight Millennium Development Goals, three – reducing child mortality by two-thirds, to reduce maternal deaths by three-quarters, and to halt and begin to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS – relate directly to the WHO's scope; the other five inter-relate and affect world health.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/MDG-NHPS_brochure_2010.pdf |title=Accelerating progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals |year=2010 |page=2 |publisher=WHO |access-date=31 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617070258/http://www.who.int/topics/millennium_development_goals/MDG-NHPS_brochure_2010.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Data handling and publications===
The World Health Organization works to provide the needed health and well-being evidence through a variety of data collection platforms, including the World Health Survey covering almost 400,000 respondents from 70 countries,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/en/ |title=WHO World Health Survey |publisher=WHO |date=20 December 2010 |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122010628/http://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/en/ |archive-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the ''[[Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health|Study on Global Aging and Adult Health]]'' (SAGE) covering over 50,000 persons over 50 years old in 23 countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sage/en/index.html |title=WHO Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health (SAGE) |publisher=WHO |date=10 March 2011 |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117021343/http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sage/en/index.html |archive-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Country Health Intelligence Portal (CHIP), has also been developed to provide an access point to information about the health services that are available in different countries.<ref>{{cite web|title=Country Health Policy Process|url=http://www.healthintelligenceportal.org/|access-date=4 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121222652/http://www.healthintelligenceportal.org/|archive-date=21 January 2012}}</ref> The information gathered in this portal is used by the countries to set priorities for future strategies or plans, implement, monitor, and evaluate it.

The WHO has published various tools for measuring and monitoring the capacity of national [[health system]]s<ref>{{cite web |title=Monitoring the building blocks of health systems: a handbook of indicators and their measurement strategies |publisher=WHO |year=2010 |url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/monitoring/en/index.htm |access-date=27 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=December 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and [[Health Human Resources|health workforces]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Handbook on monitoring and evaluation of human resources for health |publisher=WHO |year=2009 |url=https://www.who.int/hrh/resources/handbook/en/index.html |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418044842/http://www.who.int/hrh/resources/handbook/en/index.html |archive-date=18 April 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Global Health Observatory (GHO) has been the WHO's main portal which provides access to data and analyses for key health themes by monitoring health situations around the globe.<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Health Observatory|url=https://www.who.int/gho/en/index.html|access-date=4 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529070904/http://www.who.int/gho/en/index.html|archive-date=29 May 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ''WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental Health Systems'' (WHO-AIMS), the ''WHO Quality of Life Instrument'' (WHOQOL), and the ''Service Availability and Readiness Assessment'' (SARA) provide guidance for data collection.<ref>See respectively:
* {{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/WHO-AIMS/en/index.html |title=Mental Health: WHO-AIMS |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122024140/http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/WHO-AIMS/en/index.html |archive-date=22 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/76.pdf |title=WHOQOL-BREF: Introduction, Administration, Scoring and Generic Version of the Assessment |year=1996 |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617072652/http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/en/76.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sara_introduction/en/ |title=Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617070828/http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/sara_introduction/en/ |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Collaborative efforts between WHO and other agencies, such as through the [[Health Metrics Network]], also aim to provide sufficient high-quality information to assist governmental decision making.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/healthmetrics/about/whatishmn/en/index.html |title=What is HMN? |website=Health Metrics Network |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617053223/http://www.who.int/healthmetrics/about/whatishmn/en/index.html |archive-date=17 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> WHO promotes the development of capacities in member states to use and produce research that addresses their national needs, including through the [[Evidence-Informed Policy Network]] (EVIPNet).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/rpc/evipnet/en/ |title=Evidence-Informed Policy Network |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118100358/http://www.who.int/rpc/evipnet/en/ |archive-date=18 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Pan American Health Organization]] (PAHO/AMRO) became the first region to develop and pass a policy on research for health approved in September 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1414&Itemid=931 |title=Policy on Research for Health |publisher=Pan American Health Organization |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509084814/http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1414&Itemid=931 |archive-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 December 2013, a new WHO database, known as MiNDbank, went online. The database was launched on [[Human Rights Day]], and is part of WHO's QualityRights initiative, which aims to end human rights violations against people with mental health conditions. The new database presents a great deal of information about mental health, substance abuse, disability, human rights, and the different policies, strategies, laws, and service standards being implemented in different countries.<ref name="MiNDbank">{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2013/mindbank-20131210/en/ |title=Mental health information at your fingertips – WHO launches the MiNDbank |publisher=Who.int |date=10 December 2013 |access-date=29 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414081539/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2013/mindbank-20131210/en/ |archive-date=14 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It also contains important international documents and information. The database allows visitors to access the health information of WHO member states and other partners. Users can review policies, laws, and strategies and search for the best practices and success stories in the field of mental health.<ref name="MiNDbank" />

The WHO regularly publishes a ''[[World Health Report]]'', its leading publication, including an expert assessment of a specific [[global health]] topic.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=WHO |url=https://www.who.int/whr/en/index.html |title=The World Health Report |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411093728/http://www.who.int/whr/en/index.html |archive-date=11 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other publications of WHO include the ''[[Bulletin of the World Health Organization]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/bulletin/en/ |title=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330163743/http://www.who.int/bulletin/en/ |archive-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''[[Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal]]'' (overseen by EMRO),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emro.who.int/emhj.htm |title=Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal |publisher=WHO |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413182136/http://www.emro.who.int/emhj.htm |archive-date=13 April 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> the ''[[Human Resources for Health]]'' (published in collaboration with [[BioMed Central]]),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.human-resources-health.com/ |title=Human Resources for Health |publisher=BioMed Central |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331145138/http://www.human-resources-health.com/ |archive-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> and the ''[[Pan American Journal of Public Health]]'' (overseen by PAHO/AMRO).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://new.paho.org/journal/ |title=Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública |publisher=Pan American Health Organization |access-date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326174712/http://new.paho.org/journal/ |archive-date=26 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, the World Health Organization drafted a global health sector strategy on HIV. In the draft, the World Health Organization outlines its commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 with interim targets for the year 2020. To make achievements towards these targets, the draft lists actions that countries and the WHO can take, such as a commitment to universal health coverage, medical accessibility, prevention and eradication of disease, and efforts to educate the public. Some notable points made in the draft include tailoring resources to mobilized regions where the health system may be compromised due to natural disasters, etc. Among the points made, it seems clear that although the prevalence of HIV transmission is declining, there is still a need for resources, health education, and global efforts to end this epidemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.who.int/hiv/strategy2016-2021/ghss-hiv/en/|title=Global health sector strategy on HIV, 2016–2021|website=World Health Organization|access-date=19 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918103307/http://www.who.int/hiv/strategy2016-2021/ghss-hiv/en/|archive-date=18 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The WHO has a Framework Convention on Tobacco implementation database which is one of the few mechanisms to help enforce compliance with the FCTC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://apps.who.int/fctc/reporting/database |title=database |website=WHO |access-date=13 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220023429/http://apps.who.int/fctc/reporting/database/ |archive-date=20 February 2011 }}</ref> However, there have been reports of numerous discrepancies between it and national implementation reports on which it was built. As researchers Hoffman and Rizvi report "As of July 4, 2012, 361 (32·7%) of 1104 countries' responses were misreported: 33 (3·0%) were clear errors (e.g., database indicated 'yes' when report indicated 'no'), 270 (24·5%) were missing despite countries having submitted responses, and 58 (5·3%) were, in our opinion, misinterpreted by WHO staff".<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Hoffman S.J. |author2=Rizvi Z. | year = 2012 | title = WHO's Undermining Tobacco Control | journal = The Lancet | volume = 380 | issue = 9843| pages = 727–728 | doi = 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61402-0 | pmid=22920746|s2cid=46405729 }}</ref>

WHO has been moving toward acceptance and integration of [[traditional medicine]] and [[traditional Chinese medicine]] (TCM). In 2022, the new [[International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems]], ICD-11, will attempt to enable classifications from traditional medicine to be integrated with classifications from [[evidence-based medicine]]. Though Chinese authorities have pushed for the change, this and other support of the WHO for traditional medicine has been criticized by the medical and scientific community, due to lack of evidence and the risk of endangering wildlife hunted for traditional remedies.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Renckens |first1=Cees N.M. |last2=Dorlo |first2=Thomas P.C. |author-link1=Cees Renckens |date=September–October 2019 |title=Quackery at WHO: A Chinese Affair |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/2019/09/quackery-at-who-a-chinese-affair/ |magazine=[[Skeptical Inquirer]] |publisher=[[Center for Inquiry]] |volume=43 |issue=5 |pages=39–43 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200301162812/https://skepticalinquirer.org/2019/09/cnn-reporters-awarded-balles-critical-thinking-prize-for-a-deal-with-the-devil/ |archive-date=1 March 2020 |access-date=1 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Hunt">{{cite news |last1=Hunt |first1=Katie |title=Chinese medicine gains WHO acceptance but it has many critics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/24/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-who-controversy-intl/index.html |access-date=15 April 2020 |work=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414213628/https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/24/health/traditional-chinese-medicine-who-controversy-intl/index.html |archive-date=14 April 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=The World Health Organization's decision about traditional Chinese medicine could backfire |journal=Nature |date=5 June 2019 |volume=570 |issue=7759 |pages=5 |language=en |doi=10.1038/d41586-019-01726-1 |pmid=31165792 |bibcode=2019Natur.570Q...5. |s2cid=174809790 |doi-access=free }}</ref> A WHO spokesman said that the inclusion was "not an endorsement of the scientific validity of any Traditional Medicine practice or the efficacy of any Traditional Medicine intervention."<ref name="Hunt" />

==== International Agency for Research on Cancer ====
{{Further|International Agency for Research on Cancer}}
The WHO sub-department, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), conducts and coordinates research into the causes of [[cancer]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Colditz |editor-first=Graham A. |title=The SAGE Encyclopedia of Cancer and Society (International Agency for Research on Cancer) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mXxZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1323 |year=2015 |publisher=[[SAGE Publications]] |isbn=978-1-5063-0126-6 |pages=1323– |access-date=20 December 2020 |archive-date=16 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116142846/https://books.google.com/books?id=mXxZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1323#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> It also [[Cancer registry|collects]] and publishes [[Disease surveillance|surveillance]] data regarding the occurrence of cancer worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-dep.iarc.fr/ |title=CANCERMondial |website=www-dep.iarc.fr |access-date=20 December 2020 |archive-date=17 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120217163455/http://www-dep.iarc.fr/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Its [[Monograph]]s Programme identifies carcinogenic [[hazard]]s and evaluates environmental [[Carcinogen|causes of cancer]] in humans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://monographs.iarc.fr/ |title=IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans |website=monographs.iarc.fr |access-date=20 December 2020 |archive-date=11 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211213546/http://monographs.iarc.fr/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Caballero |editor-first=Benjamin |title=Encyclopedia of Food and Health |date=2015 |publisher=Elsevier Science |isbn=978-0-12-384953-3 |page=658}}</ref>